A group of Stellenbosch University (SU) students recently started a company that focuses on eco-friendly agricultural practices, community bonds and agri-training. The company has collaborated with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to educate underprivileged farmers.
Joshua Apples, senior production manager at Local Cape Roots, plants seedlings in a gardening society plot. PHOTO: Caitlin Maledo
Local Cape Roots is collaborating with a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Oasis – Reach For Your Dreams (Oasis), to provide training for underprivileged farmers, according to Clifford Martinus, head of Oasis. The project is called Garden of Grace, he added.
“That project is made up of people that used to live on the streets, that now reside here at Oasis. We’ve groomed them through a few training processes and eventually we got [Local Cape Roots] to come and further support what they have, in their skills,” said Martinus.
With the help of the company, five underprivileged individuals from the Garden of Grace project “designed a sustainable crop production system” at Oasis, according to Astin Van Schalkwyk, director of soil science and horticulture at Local Cape Roots. Members of Local Cape Roots have committed to visiting the project on a monthly basis, said Martinus.
Two individuals from Oasis – Reach For Your Dreams stand with Astin Van Schalkwyk, director of soil science and horticulture at Local Cape Roots, next to farmland that they developed. PHOTO: Supplied/Clifford Martinus
The company was started by six SU students in 2021, according to Vaughn Wilkinson, director in systems biology at Local Cape Roots.
“Local Cape Roots is an agriculture and horticulture venture that specialises in small-scale and affordable agricultural equipment, resource inputs, as well as education,” said Wilkinson. The six members of the company are: Astin van Schalkwyk, Keenan Naicker, Vaughn Wilkinson, Joshua Apples, Irshaad Parker and Sindrino Matthews.
Four members of Local Cape Roots. From left to right: Joshua Apples, Sindrino Matthews, Astin Van Schalkwayk, Keenan Naicker. PHOTO: Caitlin Maledo
The members of Local Cape Roots possess knowledge of agriculture and horticulture due to their involvement in relevant programmes at SU, said Wilkinson.
“We do have quite a variety of tertiary education skills…we are all interested in agriculture, that is the binding factor, but we do have a diverse set of skills amongst ourselves,” said Wilkinson.
The company partakes in a monthly market in Schaapkraal, Cape Town, where they sell a variety of environmentally sustainable products, according to Van Schalkwyk.
A member of Local Cape Roots, Joshua Apples, preparing soil. Local Cape Roots are “specialists in affordable, sustainable cultivation & horticulture,” as seen on the Local Cape Roots Instagram page. PHOTO: Caitlin Maledo